Ep. 45: Not All Theater is Activist, but All is Political

EQ: How can the theater arts be a tool for racial and social justice?

Guest: Sara Freeman, UPS Theatre Department

In this episode we chat about the etymology of dramaturgy,  discuss the power of theater as a medium to both reflect and influence society, and how every choice in theater is intentional (whether the director wanted it to be or not). We discuss the challenges of funding arts programs, finding young artists where they are, and how to intentionally elevate new voices.

Freeman’s Favorite Playwrights:

• Timberlake Wertenbaker “Our Country’s Good”

• Caryl Churchill “The Skriker”

• Sarah Ruhl “Eurydice”

• Naomi Iizuka “36 Views”

• Adrienne Kennedy

Also referenced during the episode:

• 2018 Race & Pedagogy Conference

• C. Rosalind Bell, Tacoma Playwright

• Color Blind to Color-Conscious Casting

Guilty-Favsies:

• Annie: the Best of Broadway on Spotify

• Hope: bingeing short little shows on Netflix

• Sara:Hostess cupcakes;  Belinda Carlisle

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Annie: the Kennedy Center has a variety of resources on arts integration under a program called Arts Edge

• Hope: Support local theater

• Sara: Read August Wilson’s “Century Cycle” and go support local theater by watching “Mojada”  at Tacoma Arts Live. Directed by Maria Tania Barreca, a new professor at UWT